Stoker and fuel distributing mechanism therefor



June 1, 1943.

Filed May 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. OTTO Moz LLE R ATTORNEY.

0. MOELLER June 1, 1943.

STOKER AND FUEL DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR OTTO MOELLER BY JW M*%MZ V A TTORNEY Patented June 1, 1943' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STD-KER AND FUEL DISTRIBUTING IHECHANISM THEREFOR Otto Moeller, Erie, Pa., assignor toThe Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1940, Serial No. 336,387

Claims.

This invention relates to stokers of the type in which fuel is conveyed from a source of supply to the firing opening in an upright wall of a furnace firebox and is forcibly projected into the firebox and scattered over the firebed. The

primary purpose of the invention is to provide the fuel bed and accelerate it through other parts. Holes permit large amounts of cold air to flow through them and retard the flow of air through other parts of the fuel bed.

In order to minimize the formation of banks or holes in the fuel bed, it is therefore necessary to provide a distributing system whereby fuel is spread evenly over the entire fuel bed. The

problem of fuel distribution is particularly acute has met with considerable success comprises a table or plate extending forwardly from the discharge end of the fuel delivery conduit of the stokerthrough the lower portion of the firing openingand into the firebox. "A jet headis disposed at the rear of the table and a blast" of fluid under pressure-issuing therefrom projects the fuel forwardly acrossthe table and into the firebox. Laterally curving upstanding ribs on the forward portion of the table deflect a portion of the fuel to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed. p A second type of fuel distributing mechanism embodies a jet head from which a blast of fluid under pressure issues in a forward and upward direction against the underside of ,a plate. Fuel dropping over the jet head is projected upwardly against the under side of the plate and scattered over the fuel bed. Laterally curving ribs depending from the underside of the plate deflect fuel to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed.

In th first type of fuel distributing mechanism, the table must necessarily extend a distance into the firebox in order that fuel may be deflected to the rear corner portions of the firebox, and th table is relatively close to the fuel bed. Thus, while effecting good distribution of fuel, the table because of its proximity to the burning fuel bed, burns off to an extent requiring frequent replacement thereof- In the second type of fuel distributing mecha nism, the replacement problem is minimized by the use of a distributing plate spaced above the level of the jet head. The top plate is thus farther removed from the burning fuel bed, and the blast of fluid under pressure and projected fuel stream being between the top plate and the burning fuel bed form a protective shield for the plate. From the standpoint of distribution,

however, this type of distributing mechanism ,has not been entirely satisfactory, particularly with relatively long fireboxes. Since the coal is projected upwardly against the top plate, its momentum is checked and it is deflected downwardly at a rather sharp angle, so that difficulty has been experienced in obtaining suffi- .cient quantities of fuel on the front portion of the fuel bed. i

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a fuel distributing mechanism in which fuel is distributed evenly over the entire fuel bed, regardless of the length of the firebox, and at the same time provide a construction requiring infrequent replacement.

A- more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and'eflicient pressure fluid jet head.'

Another object of the invention is to provide a fuel distributing apparatus of the type de scribed wherein'the volume of fluid and the jet pressure used to project the fuel is maintained at a minimum while effectively distributing fuel over all parts of the fire bed. 7

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel construction of the parts and in their combination andrelation with one another, substantially as described in the following specification and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is a central vertical longitudinal sectionalview through the rear part of a locomotive with a stoker embodying the improved distributing mechanism applied thereto and. shown in similar section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking at the Stoker from. within the firebox through the firing opening;

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a modified form of the pressure fluid distributor jet head; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of another form of pressure fluid distributor jet head.

Referring to the preferred form of the invention, shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, with occasional reference to Fig. 4, a locomotive .is indicated generally by the letter L, only so much thereof being shown as is. necessary to a com.-

plete understanding of the invention. The .locomotive comprises a boiler l3 provided with a The s cke S compri e a riser co duit surm unted y a c s n 11 wh h mb h fi in op n n I The cas ng 11 is provide in its rearward side opposite the firing opening l4 with an aperture l8, and a door J9 supported by t e ca fo ms a mo ab closure for the a ertur Fuel i ur d th o gh the riser e 1 '6 and the cas n l to the firing opening f nd e e abl th u h no ce sar y. ext ndin u w ly into th le e o i n of the ea n .A it i pwe end he c ve o screw 9 s fl ibl c nnected t .21 o a c n or e 2, which s o ed with n a c n u 2 a in orwa dl rom the te e et n Th condu ts l6 and are onn ct by e be and Socket Join -.2 hich ov d th e s ry flexibility between the conduits as relative movementbetween the locomotive and tender occurs. At the firing opening the fuel is urged into the zone of action of a pressure fluid jet head which is disposed at the lower-portion of the fir- 3 ing opening and from which blasts of fluid -under pressure, preferably steam, issue and project the fuel into the firebox. The jet head 25 is disposed in the flring opening rearward of the plane of the inside surface of the backhead H, so that it is substantially unaffected by the heat of the firebox.

In addition to the jet head 25, .the fuel distrib'uting mechanism includes a deflector plate 26 which cooperates with the jet head '25 to distribute fuel evenly over all parts of the firebed, as will become apparent from the follow-' ing description. I

The lower forward portion of the casing I! is recessed in its bottom, as indicated at 21, between the side walls 28 and 29 to receive the rearward portion of the jet head 25, Extensions 34 and 35 of the side walls 28 and 29, respectively, fit closely against the forward lateral extremi- The jet head 25 may be secured in position .in 7

any suitable manner. For purpose of illustration, the lower end of the rear wall 30 of the. jet head 25 is shown received in a seat '32 formed in the bottom Wall 33 of the casing H.

The jet head 25, referring to Figs. 1, Zand 3 30 by a conveyor screw 20 disposed in the conduit and more particularly to Fig. 4, also includes a transversely extending vertical front wall 36 depending from the central portion of the spill edge 3| of the sloping rear wall 30; the front walls 3'! and 33, one at each side of the vertical wall 36, sloping forwardly and downwardly from the spill edge 3| of the sloping rear wall 30; a bottom wall 39 extending from the lower extremity of sloping front walls .37 and 38 rearward to the lower portion of the sloping rear wall 30; end walls 40 and 4| and side walls 42 and 43. These walls together with the sloping rear wall '30 form the hollow jet head 25.

"Thehollow jet head 25 is divided longitudinally into a plurality. of chambers 44, 45 and 45, :to which fluid under pressure is supplied from a suitable source by the pipes 41. The vertical front wall 36 of the jet head 25 is provided with a horizontal row of spaced jet apertures 48 com municating with the central chamber 45. The axes of the jet apertures 48 are substantially hor onta h t he f uid under res u issuing therefrom sweeps across the ledge portio n4 9 of the jet head bottom wall 39 between the side walls .42 and 43 and projects the fuel, falling over the spill edge 3| onto the ledge 9. onto the central and forward side portion of the fuel bed. The side walls 42 and 43 are shown parallel in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but may be made to diverge as they extend forwardly so that the 'ledge 49 flares laterally, thereby insuring an ample supply of fuel to the forward side portions of the fuel bed. The divergence .of the side walls 42 and 43 represent the only difference between the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and Fig. 4, The end jet apertures 48 .are preferably directed slightly laterally in order to project a portion .of the fuel laterally onto the forward side portions of the fuel bed.

A horizontal row of spaced jet apertures 50 is provided in each of the sloping front walls 31 and '3 8,t'he apertures in the wall 3'! communieating with the chamber 44 and the apertures in the wall 38 communicating with the chamber 46. Ihe, a xes of the jet apertures 50 are directed upwardly and forwardly against the under side of the deflector plate 26. Depending from the underside of the deflector plate 26 at the forward end thereof, are laterally spaced forwardly andoutwardly curving ribs 5! and 572. These ribs intercept most of the fuel projected upwardly by the pressure fluid blast issuing from the jet apertures 50 in the sloping walls 3] and 3.8 and direct it to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed.

The deflector plate 26 is disposed above the jet head 25 and extends forwardlythereof into the firebox. At its rearward end, the deflector plate 26 is secured by bolts 53 to a shaft 54 which extends transversely through the upper portion of the casing 11. In order to control the distribution of fuel to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed and also for the purpose of gaining access to the interior of the firebox l2, the deflector plate may be swung about the axis of shaft 54 by a handle 55 which is secured to the shaft .54 in any suitable manner. The deflector plate may then be locked in any position of ad justment by means of a pin 56 passing through .a hole 51 in the handle 55 and any one of a :number of holes 58 in a lock 59 formed along one side of the casing IT.

From the aboye description it is apparent that the jet head 25 is protected from the intense heat of the firebox, at the same time a support is provided for the fuel as it is projected to the far reaches of the firebox and its forward path is unimpeded by any part of the distributing mechanism. The corner portions of the fuel bed are taken care of by the ribs 5| and 52 on the deflecting plate 26 and since the deflecting plate is spaced a considerable distance from the burning fuel bed and is shielded from the fire by the fuel stream and the steam blast, it is well protected against the intense heat of the firebox. The distributing mechanism is thus arranged for maximum protection against burning and consequent replacement and at the same time provides for improved fuel distribution regardless of the size of the firebox.

In Fig. 5 is. shown a modified form of the invention. Except for the construction of the jet head, this modified form of the invention is the same as the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and it is necessary therefore to describe only the jet head.

As in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the jet head 60 shown in Fig. 5 has a sloping rear wall 5| terminating at its upper end in a spill edge 62. A vertical wall 63 depends from the upper central end of the rear wall 6|. Instead of the sloping walls 31 and 38 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the modification shown in Fig. 5 is provided with horizontal walls 64 and 65 extending forwardly of the upper end of the rear wall 63 at the sides of the vertical wall 63. The bottom wall 66, end walls 61 and 68, front walls 69 and Ill, and side walls H and 12, together with the top walls 64, 65 and rear wall 6| enclose chambers such as 13, one at each side of the vertical wall 63 and extending forwardly thereof. The vertical wall 63 forms the front wall of the central chamber 14.

The portion 15 of the bottom wall 66 between the side walls H and I2 and forward of the vertical wall 63 forms a ledge on which the fuel is received as it drops over the spill edge 62.- The top walls 64 and 65 are provided with upwardly and forwardly directed apertures 16 communicating with the chambers 13 and the vertical wall 63 is provided with horizontally directed apertures 'Il' communicating with the chamber 14. Fluid under pressure is admitted to the chambers 13 and M through openings in the rearward portion of the bottom wall 66, such as the opening shown at 18. Preferably the side walls H and I2 diverge with respect to'each other in the direction of their lower forward ends so that fuel projected from the ledge 15 by the pressure fluid blasts issuing from the jet openings Tl will reach the extreme side portions of the fuel bed, and at the same time the top walls 64 and 65 will have a sufficiently large surface to receive an ample supply of fuel for projection and deflection to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed.

With the sloping walls 31, 38 of the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a considerable amount of fuel will roll down onto the rear central portion of the fuel bed, while with the horizontal walls 54, 65 of the construction shown in Fig. 5 less fuel will drop onto the rear central portion of the fuel bed and more fuel will be projected and deflected to the rear corner portions of the fuel bed. The first type of jet head is more suitable to a narrow firebox, while the latter type of jet head is more suitable to a wide firebox.

I claim:

1. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker, said head having lateral portions thereof project- 'ing forward beyond the central portion thereof,

said central portion having a front wall provided with a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures, said forwardly projecting portions being provided in respective wall portions thereof with forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures, said apertures communicating with the interior of said pressure fluid jet head, the rearward edges of said last named walls and the upper edge of said front Wall lying in the same vertical and horizontal planes forming a straight transversely extending edge, and a plate extending forwardly from the front wall of said central portion between said forwardy projecting portions, said plate being in a plane below the level of the jet apertures in said front wall.

2. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker, said head having lateral portions thereof projecting forward beyond the central portion thereof, said central portion having a front wall provided with a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures, said forwardly projecting portions being provided in respective wall portions thereof with forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures, said jet head being internally divided by longitudinally extending partitions into a plurality of chambers, the jet apertures in the front wall of said central portion communicating with one of said chambers and the jet apertures in each of said forwardly projecting portions communieating with a respective chamber, and a plate extending forwardly from the front wall of said central portion between said forwardly projecting portions, said plate being in a plane below the level of the jet apertures in said front wall.

3. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker,

said head having lateral portions thereof projecting forward beyond the central portion thereof, said forwardly projecting portions being hollow and formed with their respective adjacent side walls diverging with respect to each other in their forward extent, said central portion having a front wall provided with a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures, said forwardly projecting portions being provided in respective wall portions thereof with forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures, said apertures communicating with the interior of said pressure fluid jet head, the rearward edges of said last named walls and the upper edge of said front'wall lying in the same vertical and horizontal .planes forming a straight transversely extending edge, and a plate extending forwardly from the front wall of said central portion be tween the sidewalls of ,said forwardly projecting portions, said plate being in a plane below the level of the jet apertures in said front wall.

4. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker comprising a transversely extending upright front wall, a top wall at each side of said front wall extending forwardly from the plane of said front wall, a plurality of forwardly directed jet aper tures in said frontwall communicating with the interior of said hollow jet head, a plate extending forwardly, from said front wall below said jet apertures and between said top walls, and a plurality of upwardly and forwardly directed jet apertures in said top walls communicating with the interior of said hollow jet head.

5. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker comprising a transversely extending upright front wall, a top wall at each side of said front wall extending forwardly from the plane of said front wall adjacent the upper end of the front wall, a plurality'of forwardly directed jet apertures in said frontwall communicating with the interior of :said hollow jet ,head, a plate extending forwardly fromsaid front wall below-said jet apertures and between said top walls, andaplurality .of upwardly .andforwardly directed jet apertures in said top walls communicating with the interior .of said hollow jet head.

.6. .A hollow pressure =fluid jet head for a stoker comprising a .transversely extending vertical front wall, a top wall .-at each side of said front wall extending forwardly from the plane of said front .wall, apluralityof horizontallydirected jet apertures in said front wallcommunicating with the interior of said hollow jet head, a plate extending forwardly from ,said front wall lying in a horizontal plane belowsaid jet apertures and between said top walls, and .a .plurality of -upwardly and forwardly .directed jet apertures in said top walls communicating with the interior of said hollow jet head.

7, A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker comprising a transversely extending upright front .wall, a top wall at each side .of said front wall extending forwardly and downwardly from the plane of said front wall, .a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures in said front wall communicating with the interior of said hollow jet head, a plate extending forwardly from said front wall below said jet apertures and between said top walls, and ,a plurality ,of upwardly and forwardly directed jetapertures in said top walls communicating with the interior ofsaid hollow jet head.

.8. A hollow pressure fluid jet head fora ,stoker comprising .a transversely extending upright front wall, a top wall at each side .of said front wall extending horizontally forward from the plane of said front wall, a plurality .of forwardly directed jetapertures in said front wall com- .municating with the interior of said hollow jet head, a plate extending forwardly from said front well below said jet apertures and between said ,topwalls, and a plurality of upwardly and forwardly-directed jet apertures insaid top walls communicating with the interior of said hollow jet head.

9. A-hollow pressure fluid jet head fora stoker comprising a sloping rear wall terminating at its upper end in a spill edge, a front wall dependin from the central portion .of said spill edge, a top wall sloping forwardly and downwardly from said spill edge at each side of said ,front wall, a bottom wall joining said rear wall,.front wall and sloping top walls, end walls joining .the contiguous edges of said rear, bottom and sloping top Walls, and inner side walls extending forwardly from the lateral edges .of. said front wall and joining said bottom andsloping top walls, said Walls defining the hollow pressure fluid jet head, a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures in said front wall and a plurality of forwardly and upwardly'directed jet apertures in each .of said sloping top walls, said jet apertures communieating with the interior of said jet head, the portion of said bottom wall forward of said front wall and between said inner side walls forming a plate across which the jet apertures in said front wall are directed.

10. A hollow pressure fluid jet head for a stoker comprising a sloping rear wall terminating at its upper end in a spill edge, a front wall depending from the central portion of said spill edge a top wall slopingforwardly and downwardly from said spill edge at each side of said front wall, a bottom wall joining said rear wall, front wall and slo ing top walls, end walls joinin the contiguous edges of ,said;.-rear, bottom and slop ng top walls, and inner :side walls extending forwardly from the lateral edges of said front wall :and joining said bottom and sloping top walls, said inner side walls diverging with respect to each other in their forward extent, said Walls :defining :the hollow pressure fluid jet head, a plurality of forwardlydirected jet apertures in said front walland :a plurality of forwardly and upwardlydirected,jeti rpertures in each of said sloping "top walls, said gjet apertures communicating with the interior of said jet head, the portion of said bottom wall forward of said front wall and between said inner side walls forming a plate across which the jet-apertures in said front wall are directed.

1'11. A stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall with a flringopeningtherein, said stoker comprising a fuel feed conduit communicating with said opening, a pressure fluid head at the "lower forward side of the discharge end of said conduit, fuel deflecting means disposed in said firing opening above said pressure fluid head and extending forwardly therebeyond, said pressure fluid ,head having a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures for the emission of blasts of fluid under pressure beneath said deflecting means, said pressure fluid head also having a plurality of forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures disposed laterally apart from said forwardlydirected jet apertures for the emission of blasts of ifluid under pressure against the under side of said deflecting means, said forwardly directed jet apertures and said forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures being disposed below the level of said fuel deflecting means, and means for urging fuel through said fuel feedcconduit and over said pressure fluid head into the zone of action of said blasts of fluid under pressure.

12. A stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall with-a firing opening therein, said stoker comprising a fuel feed conduit communicating with said opening, a pressure fluid head at the lower forward side of the forward end of said conduit, a transverse wall above said pressure fluid head extending forwardly thereof, 'said pressure fluid head having a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures for the emission of blasts of fluid under pressure beneath said transverse wall, said pressure =fiuid head also having a plurality of forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures disposed laterally apart from said forwardly directed jet apertures for the-emission of blasts of fluid under pressure against the under side of said transverse wall, said forwardly directed jet apertures and said forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures being disposed below the level of said transverse wall, and means for urging fuel through said fuel feed conduit and over .said pressure fluid head into the zone of action of said blasts of fluid under pressure, said transverse plate being provided on its under side withmeans for diverting fuel laterally from its projected path. 7

13. A stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall with a firing opening therein, said stoker comprising a fuel feed conduit communicating with said opening, a pressure fluid head at the forward end of said conduit, a transverse wall above said pressure fluid head extending forwardly thereof, said pressure fluid head having a plurality of centrally disposed forwardly directed jet apertures for the emission .of blasts of fluid under pressure beneath said transverse wall, said pressure fluid head also having a plurality of forwardly and upwardly directed jet apertures at each side of said centrally disposed jet apertures for the emission of blasts of fluid under pressure against the under side of said transverse wall, and means for urging fuel through said fuel feed conduit into the zone of action of said blasts of fluid under pressure, said transverse plate being provided on its under side with means for divert-- ing the fuel projected against the underside of said transverse wall laterally from its projected path.

14. A stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall with a firing opening therein, said stoker comprising a fuel feed conduit communicating with said opening, a hollow pressure fluid jet head at the forward end of said conduit, fuel deflecting means disposed above and forward of said jet head, said hollow pressure fluid jet head having a sloping rear wall terminating at its upper end in a spill edge, a transversely extending upright wall depending from the central portion of said spill edge and a transverse wall extending in a forward direction from said spill edge on each side of said upright wall, said upright wall having a plurality of forwardly directed jet apertures therein, said transverse forwardly extending walls each having jet apertures therein directed upwardly and forwardly in the direction of the under side of said deflecting means, said jet apertures communicating with the interior of said hollow pressure fluid jet head, and means for urging fuel through said fuel feed conduit and over said spill edge into the zone of action of fluid under pressure issuing from said jet apertures.

15. A stoker for a firebox having an upstanding wall with a firing opening therein, said stoker comprising a fuel feed conduit communicating with said opening, a hollow pressure fluid jet head at the forward end of said conduit, fuel deflecting means disposed above and forward of said jet head, said hollow pressure fluid jet head having a sloping rear wall terminating at its upper end in a spill edge, a transversely extending upright wall depending from the central portion of said spill edge and a transverse wall extending in a forward direction from said spill edge on each side of said upright wall, said upright wall having a plurality of forwardly directed jet aper tures therein, said transverse forwardly extending walls each having jet apertures therein directed upwardly and forwardly against the under side of said deflecting means, said jet apertures communicating with the interior of said hollow pressure fluid jet head, a plate extending forwardly of said upright wall below the jet apertures therein and between said transverse forwardly extending walls, and means for urging fuel through said fuel feed conduit and over said spill edge into the zone of action of fluid under pressure issuing from said jet apertures. 

